A Mother’s Pride
The birth of a girl in many rural households in India is cause for concern. These families are so poor they cannot afford to pay the traditional dowry required for marriage. The families generally have two choices: send their daughter away to the city to earn her own dowry, or marry her off to an older man when she is extremely young. With land, these families are more likely able to keep their daughters in school. Photo by Deborah Espinosa